Valve for fusible safety-plugs



(No Model.)

J. A. PLAJOLE.

VALVE FOB. PUSIBLE SAFETY PLUGS.

N0. 340,994. Patented May 4, 1886.

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Kfm; euhm PETERS. Pham-Limum UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICEl JOHN A.FLAJOLE, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

VALVE FOR FUSIBLE SAFETY-PLUGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,994, dated May 4.1886.

' Application filed January 7, IBSG. Serial No. 187,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FLAJoLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michi gan, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Valves for FusibleSafety-Plugs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters and ligures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification,

A plug composed of metal which is fusible at a low temperature is firmlyfixed into the crown-sheet or upper tubes of a boiler and arranged sothat Whenever the portion containing the said plug shall be above thesurface of the water within the boiler the fusible plug will melt, and,running out, form an opening, which allows the steam from the'boiler torush out and put out or deaden the iire, in order to avoid the dangerfrom an explosion caused by low water within the boiler; but often fromother causes than low water in the boiler this plug becomes exposed to asufficient degree of heat to cause its removal, and causes greatinconvenience as well as danger. A boat at sea, by the action of thewind or when aground,or when pulling a heavy tow'in a gale, is liable tolay over on her side and leave the plug free from a covering of waterwithin the boiler, which allows the plug to fuse and let the water outof the boiler and put out the fires.

The object of my invention is to arrange a device by means of which theopening caused by the melting lof the plug at such times may be easilyand quickly closed and the water retained within the boiler, so that thevessel may be worked until the danger is passed,and thereby save theloss of life and property. I attain these objects by means of thedevices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis alongitudinal vertical section of aportion ofamarine boiler and of myimprovement thereto attached, and showing the plug in place. Fig. 2 isthe same, showing the position of the parts when the plug is removed.Fig. 3 is a section at x x.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

a represents the shell of a marine-boiler; b, the crown sheet; c, thereturn -flues5 d, the smoke-box, and c the boiler-head.

(No model.)

end of the rod Z, the opposite end of the rod being passed through l[hehead c and a packing-box, m, which is firmly secured to the out' side ofthe boiler-head. Au extended arm, oz', is secured to the packing-box,and to the outer end of the arm is pivoted one end of a lever, o, whichis also pivoted, at a short distance from this pivoted end, to the outerend of the rod Z,

and the opposite end of the lever, after passing through the guide-piecep, is provided with a suitable handle, r. rIhe guide-piece p is providedwith holes t, into which is placed a pin for securing the lever to holdthe valve in either a position for covering the plug or for leaving theplug-opening free.

The operation of the device is that when the plug is melted out and thesteam and water begin to rush from the boiler the lever is pushedinward, which causes the valve to move over the plug-opening, shuttingoff the flow ofsteani and water, and then the engineer can ascertain thecause of the trouble and proceed to :remove the difficulty withoutentirely emptying the boiler and putting out his fires, and the vesselcan be run into port in this condition, whereas should the plug bemelted out from any cause while in a storm the vessel is liable to goashore before the boilers can be refilled and the steam again raised toaworking pressure.

The lever and valve may be worked backward and forward from time to timeto provide against sticking the valve with scale and corrosion, and theworking of the valve pushes the scale and sediment from the plug, sothat the water may always be in contact with the inner end ofthe plug,which is agreat advantage, as when the plug becomes covered withsediment and scale it is liable to melt out from the 'action of theheat, and let the water out ot the boiler when the boiler has the properamount of water within.

Having described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Leiters Patent, 1s-

1. In a fusible safetyplug valve, the Combination, with the boiler andavalve-seatseoured to the inside of the Crown-sheet or tubes oftheboiler and a fusible safety plug passing through the crownsheet andvalveseat, of a valve sliding upon the said seat and having square ends,whereby by the action ofthe valve the sediment and scale is removed fromthe inner end of the fusible plug, and a rod oonnected with the Valveand passing through the shell of the boiler, substantially as and forthe purpose herein set forth.

2. In a valve for a fusible safety-plug, the c0u1bination,\vith theGrown-sheet b,the valveseat g, secured to the inside of' the erowirsheetand provided with the guides i, afusible plug, f, passing through thecrown-sheet, and Valveseat g, a valve, h, sliding upon the seat and 2oend of the arm and to the valve-rod, and the 25 guide-piecep,substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

JOHN A. FLAJOLE.

Vi tnesses: 1

J. E. THOMAS, En. VEHNERA

